Gottlieb kimmich



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. KIMMICH. HORSE DETAGHER.

No. 405,963. Patented June 25, 1889).A

N F TENS. Phen LHhugnpMn wzmingion, D, c.

l(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. KIMMIGH.

HORSE DBTAGHER.

Patented June 25, 1889.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GOTTLIEB KIMMICH, OF OBERESSLINGEN, \VRTEMBERG, GERMANY.

HORSE-DETACHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 405,963, dated June 25, 1889.

Application filed March 6, 1889. Serial No. 802,093. (No model.) Patented in Germany December 2, 1887, No. 43,834, and in England January 17, 1888, No. 75l.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GorTLiEB KIMMICH, of the city of Oberesslingen, near Esslingen, in the Kingdom of lV iirtemberg and German Empire, have invented a certain new and useful improvement in apparatus for unhitching horses and other dra'l'tanimals from and arresting the movement of wagons and other vehicles, (for which I have obtained patents in Germany, No. 23,83% December 2, 1887, and England, No. 75l, January 17, 1888,) of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to an improved apparatus by means of which teams can be unhitched at once; and its object is' to prevent disasters such as are now often caused by runaway teams. The said improved apparatus is constructed so that by means of one single motion of the hand the driver of the wagon can unhitch the running horses at any nioment, and at the same time stop the vehicle by brakes brought into action by the same motion.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures l to 4, inclusive, show the apparatus adapted to a freight-wagon, and Figs. and G to a light coach.

Referring to Figs. l and 2, the front carriage or frame of the wagon is provided with ahandlever a, which is in operative connection with an axle or shaft b, suitably journaled on the wagon and carrying the trace-hooks c for the links of the trace-chains or traces c of the team. By oscillating the said shaft b for about ninety degrees the trace-hooks c will be turned inra backward direction through slots c?, provided in the bar a', and thus be disconnected from the traces c', (see Fig. 4,) the said traces being retained upon the bar a', while the hooks 'c pass through the said slots in the same.

The shaft b is provided at or near its center with a hook d, Figs. l and 8, connected with the bolt e on the front part of the pole x by means of trace-chain and bar d. The bolt e is carried by a bar f, arranged within an elongated hollow space in the forward end of the pole .fr and pressed forward permanently by a spiral. spring g, an open space being formed between the forward end of the pole .fr and the angular piece 71, fixed upon the front end of the said pole for the insertion of the last link of the breeching-chain 1', the said bar being pushed through the said link and a hole in the said angular piece 71.. Turning or oscillating, as described, the shaft l) and the hook d fixed thereon will,therefore, cause the said chain and bar d io retract the bolt e, with its connected bar f, and thelatter will slide backward into the hollow space of the pole and out of the angular piece h andthe link of the breeching-clian fi, so that the said chain will be free to drop.

Thus it will be seen that by means of asingle movement of the hand the runaway team will be disconnected entirely from the Wagon and can take nothing along except the harness, while the pole and singletree-bar, which, if likewise carried along' by the lieeing team, would still more increase the fury of lthe lat ter, are left behind in connection with the wagon; but together with the said contrivance for unhitehing the team provision has been made for applying brakes to the wheels of the moving wagon, so as to stop the latter instantaneously the moment that the team has been disconnected from the vehicle. The device designed for the latter purpose consists, essentially, of a pair of brake-blocks 7c, arranged at both sides of the wagon, each brake-block 7e being fastened to the end of a chain l, the other end of which is attached to the singletree-bar, while a link of about the middle portion of the said chain lis suspended loosely on a pin a, fixed in the shaft b. The

latter being` partly rotated, as set forth, will cause lthe chain Z to drop olf from the pin n, if turned from a nearly horizontal into a more or less vertical position, and the brake-block 7c, by reason of its gravity, will fall down before the wheel and arrest the motion of the latter, a suitable guide m being provided to bring the said block into the proper position in front of the wheel.

As stated, the braking operation takes place simultaneously with the operation of unhitching, and both operations are eifected by means of a quarter-rotation of the shaft Z9, Wl1icl1,in stead of being arranged near the middle of IOO the said shaft, may be applied near one end thereof.

Figs. and 6 illustrate the invention in connection With a light coach.

Having thus described my invention, what I ,claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination of the slotted bar a', against Which the traces rest, With the shaft b, having the bitching-hooks movable in thev slots of the bar to release the traces, and a lever for rotating the shaft, said slotted bar serving to support the traces while the hooks are being disengaged therefrom, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the axially-rotating shaft b, provided with the hand-lever CZ, and` shaft b and hand-lever CZ, of the pinsn, the chain Z, brake-block 7a, the hooks c, and the slotted singletree-bar a', substantially as and for the purposes specified.

5. The combination, with the oscillating shaft b and hand-lever a, of the pins n, the chain Z, brake-block k, the hooks c, the hook d, and the slotted singletree-bar a', substantially as and for the purposes specified.

6. The combination, with the oscillating shaft b and the hand-lever a, of the pins n, the chain Z, brake-block la, the hooks c, the hook CZ, the slotted singletree-bar a', the drawing-rod CZ', the bolt e, the spring g, and the sliding bar f, arranged and operating substantially as and for the purposes specied.

7. The combination, with the oscillating shaft b and the hand-lever a, of the pins n, the chain Z, brake-block k, guide m, and slotted singletree-bar a', substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. 

